Automatic controller for printing-presses.



PaIented Ia n. l, I90I.

Application med an} 19, 1900.,

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No. 665,072. T Patented Jan. I, I901. T. C. DEXTER. AUTOMATIC CONTROLLERFOR PRINTING PRESSES.

A ncmim filed. Mar. 19, 1900.) v i (M 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W.,% zz57. g@

ATTORNEY} m: norm: warms co. PHOTO-LUNG" WASNLHGYON n c No. 665,072.Patented Jan. I, I901;

T. C. DEXTER. AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER FOR PRINTING PBESSES. I

(Application filed 19, 1900;] i (No Model.) 9 $heets-Shaet. 3.

ATTORNEY No. 665,072; Patented Ian. I, l90l. T. c, DEXTER.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER FUR PRINTING PBESSES.

I Appiication filed 1m. 19, 1900.1 (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

wlmassas T INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19m.

T. 'c. DEXTER. 7 AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

Appliatibzi filed Mar. 19, 1900., (No Modal.)

9 Shaots-Shaat 5.

m INVENTQR fl oz ATTORNEY WITNESSES: w aw-M Patented Ian. I. I90l. T C.DEXTER. AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

Application filed Mm. 19, 1900.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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WITNESSES;

A TORNEY Patented Jan. I, I90l. T. C. DEXTER I AUTOMATIC GONTBOLLER FORPRINTING PRESSE S.

(Application filed Mar. 19, 1900.: (No Model.)

9 Sheets-Shut '7.

I VE TOR- WITNESSES.

KIM

ATTORNEY m: uonms moi-mama. msumaron. n. c,

No. 665,072. :PatentedIan. I, I90I. T. c. DEXTER.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

Application Med Mar. 1 00" (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 8.

WIT ESSES: I INVENTOR' ATTORNEY No. 665,072. Patehtd Jan. |9o|..

' S T. CQDEXIER. S

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER-FOB PRINTING PRESSES.

{Application filed m". 19, 1900.)

(No Model.)

T INVENTOR- 7 ATTORNEY E. 3 a 0 $2 ,u 0

WITNESSES:

UNITED- STATES PATENT- GFFICE.

TALBOT O. DEXTER, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC,CONTROLLER FOR PRINTING -PRESSES SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 665.072, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed March 19, 1900. Serial No. 9,201. the models To ctZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALBOT O. DEXTER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Pearl River, in the county of Rockland, in the Stateof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in AutomaticControllers for Printing-Presses, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription. p

This invention, relates to devices designed to automatically cont-r01the action of printing-presses supplied with paper by feedingmachines. L

The chief object of this invention is to effectually guard againstcarrying the faceof the impression-cylinder into contact with the inkedsurface of the form on the press-bed in case of accidental failure inthe delivery of paper at the proper time to the press.

My said in ventionis more specially required for printing-pressesequipped with paper-feeding machines Which are provided with means forautomatically switching the paper from its path to the printing-press incase two or more sheets are delivered simultaneously from thefeeding-machine. Oneformofsuchswitching devices is shown in my LettersPatent No. 618,648, dated January 31, 1899, which switching of the paperobviously deprives the press of the requisite supply of paper.

The invention consists in the improved mechanisms and combination ofcooperating elements, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my invention,showing its connection with a printing-press and paper-feeding devices.Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of the principal parts of the same. Fig.3 is an enlarged elevation of the tripping and stoppingmechanismsoftheprinting-press. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are elevations of thedevices for automatically controlling the aforesaid tripping andstopping mechanisms shown in different operative positions. Fig. 7 is aside elevation of my invention as applied to a printing-press driven byan electric motor. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section on line X Xin Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 9 is an enlargeddetached side View of the mechanisms for tripping theimpression-cylinder of the press. Fig. 10 is a plan View of the same.Fig. 11 is a, face view of the belt-shifting lever and its connections.Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical transverse section on lineY Y in Fig. 2,viewed toward the left from said line. Fig. 13 is a side elevationshowing my invention provided with means for allowing the press to becontrolled at will of the pressman standing at either end of themachine, and Figs. 13 and 14 are enlarged detached perspective views ofthe feelers which control the actionof the printingpress.

In the said drawings,

'ing-press, and B the paper-feeding machine,

both of which may be of any suitable and wellknown type, and C denotesthe conveyers which'carry the paper from the feeding-machine to theprinting-press and consist mainly of endless tapes extending from thefeedingrollers D of the feeding-machine B to a roller E, mounted insuitable hearings on the stationary side rails F.

The printing-press represented in this case is of the type which has avertically-movable A represents a printimpression-cylinder I and isusually termed a two-revolution press.

The journal-boxes J of the impression-cylinder slide vertically inguides H on the frame K of the press and are sustained normally inelevated position by means of spiral springs L, resting uponverticallymovable cross-bars N and abutting with their upper ends onshoulders formed on rods 0 0 depending from the journal boxes, saidcross bars being mounted upon the ends of stout spiral springs P, seatedin the press-frame and forcing th cross-bars upward. Thenecessaryintermittent downward pressure of the impression-cylinder isobtained by means of toggles T, connected at the extremities of theirarms, respectively, to the press-frame K and to the cross-bars N. By thestraightening of said toggles the crossbars N are depressed, and thusthe impression-cylinder is allowed to descend bygravity. Thisstraightening of the toggles is usually effected by means of a pitman R,connected at one end to a transverse shaft S, to each end of which oneof the toggles is pivoted at the junctionof its arms. The free end ofsaid pitman is formed with a notch R, by which it rides upon the freeend of a 1i ro1i erly-ti med rock-arm U, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 ofthe drawings.

V denotes the treadle by means of which the pressman is enabled to liftthe pitman R out of engagement with the rock-arin U, and. thus leave theii'npression-cylinder I in its elevated and inoperative position, whenfound necessary to prevent the packing of the impression-cylinder fromcoming. in contact with the inked surface of the form carried in thepress, 'lo effect this tripping or throwing, of the iinpression-cylinderout of its operative condition automatically, as hereinbefore stated, Iemploy mechanisms controlled by the paper passing from thefeeding-machine to the printing-press, which mechanisms consist,essentially, of a lever actuated automatically to trip thecylinder-depressing mechanism, an arm movable to a position torestrainsaid action of the lever, a feeler normally opposed to the passage ofpaper to the press and yielding to contactwith said paper, and mechanismactuated by the normally disposed feeler to throw the aforesaid leverout of its restraining position. All of said automatically-con trolledmechanisms aresusceptible of many modificationsof the details ofconstruction, and I therefore do not limit myself. strictly to theconstruction and combination of the component parts of the mechanismsshown in the annexed drawings, in which a denotes a bellcranlc pivotedto the lower portion of the press-frame and having on one end a roller(1, by which it bears on the under side of the free end of the pitmanit. (See Figs. 9 and 10.) The other arm of said bell-crank is connectedby a rod a to another bell-crank l), pivoted to a suitable support onthe press-frame and connected by a rod Z) to a third bell-crank 0. (SeeFigs. 2 and 3.) This latter bell-crank is connected by a rod 0 to alever (1, which is pivoted at one end to a suitable bracket fastened tothe door or preferably to the bottom of the interior of a shielding-boxW, rigidly secured to the floor. The described connection of the lever(Z with the first-mentioned bell-crank a allows the pitman R to bethrown out of ene'z'igmneut with the rock-arm U by the movement of saidlever in one direction, which movement is produced automatically bymeans of a suitable spring (Z forcing the lever in said direction. Torestrain said lever from said action and maintain theimpressitin-cylinder of the press in operation, i employ an arm 6, whichabuts with its free end on a shoulder (Z on the said lever. This arm isattached to and controlled by a shaft 6', disposed at right EH1 gles tothe plane of the movement of the le-- ver and mounted in suitablebearings, preferably on the walls of the box XV. To the said shaft isalso attached another arm 6 to the free end of which is pivoted a rollerdisposed over a rotary cam f, secured to a shaft f, which is parallelwith the shaft 6' and mounted in hearings in the sides of the box W. Theshaft f receives motion by means of a gear-wheel f rigidly mountedthereon and meshing with a pinion f fastened to a con nter-shaftf, towhich motion is transmitted by a gear-wheel f secured thereon andmeshing with a pinion g on a parallel shaft g, which receives motionfrom one of the dliving-gears of the printing-press, which gear mesheswith a gear g fastened to the shaft g, as indicated by dotted lines inFig. ii of the d rawinns. To the shaft f is fastened a cam d disposed toengage a roller d, pivoted to the lever d. This cam is shaped to forcethe lever (1 back in opposition to the spring (Z during a period of therotation of said cam. The lever is thereby thrown into a position toallow the restrainine-arm e to engage the shoulder (Z, and thus lock thelever in its position.

'lransversely over the paper-conveyers U is a rock-shaft 7L, mountedatiisends on brackets 7L rising from shoes 7L2, which ride on plates 71,fastened to the side rails F. Said plates are provided with longitudinalslots It for the reception of the bolts 71., by means of which saidshoes are adjustahly clamped on the plates for the purpose hereinafterexplained. The recleshaft It has at'tacl'ied to one of its ends an armhhthe freeend of which is connected by a rod 6 to the arm 6 and servesto transmit motion to the rock-shaft. To this rock-shaft is fastened alinger r1, which is disposed, preferably, at ornear the ccnte r of thewidth of the paperconveyers and ex.- tends toward the receiving end ofsaid eonveyers. Under the free end of said linger is a feeler i, formed,preferably, of a verticallyelongaied light metal plate pivotedintermcdiato its ends to an arm fastened to a rod j, which is parallelwith the aforesaid rock-shaft and firmly secured to snitablesupports,which may be either formed on the supportiinrbracl ets 7i of therock-shaft h, as shown in Fig. (J of the drawings, or formed separatelyand mounted on the shoes h as represented in Figs. L and 5 of thedrawings. Either of said constructions affords the desired adjustabilityof the rock-shaft h and rodj in relation to their distance from theimpressioncylinder of the priniingpross.

The upper end of the feeler '11 is formed with a shoulder 1?, presen edtoward the free end of the [bigger hand istcrminatcd with anupwardly-extending guard 21, which is inclined from the finger 2' toallow the latter to descend and push the feeler into position to allowthe shoulder f thereof to engage the top of the finger, as illustratedin Fig. +i of the drawings, and when in the said position the lower endof the feeler is in the plane of the paper-conveyers C. This is thenormal position of the feeler assumed when the paper-conveyors C fail todeliver paper to the printingprcss.

To harmonize the action of the paper-feedinn machine with the movementof thoprinting-press, i provide means for coupling together theactuating-gears of said machine and press. This I prefer to accomplishby fastening on the shaft f a ratchet-wheel d and mounting loosely onsaid shaft at the side of the ratchet-wheel a gear 01 to which ispivoted a pawl d adapted to be thrown in and out of engagement with saidratchet- Wheel. The gear 61 engages a gear (:1 rigidly secured to ashaft d mounted in bearings in the sides of the box W. To the shaft d isattached a miter-pinion e meshing with acorresponding pinion e securedto a shaft 6 which is extended to the paperfeeding machine B,Where it isprovided with another miter-pinion e meshing with a corresponding pinione on the lower end of a vertical shaft 6 journaled in suitable hearingson the frame of the feeding-machine. The upper end of the shaft 6 hasattached to it a miter-pinion 6 by means of which it transmits motion toa suitable gear of the actuating mechanism of the feeding-machine.

The object of employing the described pawland-ratchet connection fortransmitting motion from the shaft f to the actuating mechanism of thefeeding-machine is to permit the printing press to be operated withoutthe feeding-machine when so desired. It is obvious that other suitableclutching devices may be used in place of the pawl and'ratchet.

The operation of the described mechanisms for automatically tripping orthrowing the impression-cylinder out of operative position is asfollows: In starting the printing-press the shaft f receives rotarymotion, which causes the cam d to force the lever 01 into the positionshown in Fig. (5 of the drawings to release the pitman R and allow it toproduce the necessary intermittent lifting of the impressioncylinder. Ifat that time the paper passes 1 under the feeler i, the finger t is freeto oscillate, and thus the rock-shaft it allows the arm e to be rockedby the cam f. The arm e, movingin unison with the arm 6 is brought atproper intervals into position to abut against the shoulder 01 on thelever cl, and thus retain said lever in the aforesaid position while thecam 01 is turned from the lever. Hence the impression-cylinder continuesits vertical movement. If, however, the paper fails to pass under thefeeler i, the shoulder '6 thereof catches onto the top of the finger,and thereby arrests the motion of the rock-shaft h in a position whichprevents the arm 6 from engaging the shoulder on the lever d, as shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings, and thus allows said lever to be thrown bythe spring 01 into a position which throws the pitman R out ofengagement with the rockarm U,and thus trips the impression-cylinder I,so as to preventits being depressed.

In addition to the described devices for controlling the verticalmovement of the impression-cylinder of the printing-press I prefer toemploy means for automatically shifting the driving-belt or stopping thedriving mechanism of the printing-press, which automatic stoppingdevices may also be used without the before-describedcylinder-controlling mechanism, especially when to be used in connectionwith the class of printing-presses usually termed drum-cylinder presses.For this purpose I employa lever is, preferably at the side of thebefore-described lever 01 and pivoted in the same manner. This lever isis connected by a rod is to one of the arms of a bell-crank 10 whoseother arm is connected by a rod 1 to a horizontal extension l of theordinary belt-shifting lever Z as more clearly shown in Fig. 11 of thedrawings. The said shifting-lever is provided with the usual fork Z bywhich it engages the belt to shift it to and from the driving-pulley Oof the printing-press. A spiral spring m, surrounding the portion of therod 70 adjacent to the lever 70 and abutting at opposite ends againstthe inner side of the end wall of the box W and against a collaradjustably connected to the rod, serves to force said lever in adirection to cause it, by means of the rod k and its describedconnection with the lever Z to throw the belt 0 onto the loose pulley.

To throw the belt onto the driving-pulley 0 I attach to the "shaft f,hereinhefore described, a cam 8, similar or corresponding to the cam dsaid cam .9 serving to force the lever back in opposition to itsactuating spring on during part of the rotation of the shaft f. To lookthe lever in said position after the cam has turned from it, I attach tothe shaft 6, hereinbefore referred to, a restraining-arm 'n and attachto the side of the lever 1c two shoulders n and n arranged with a spacebetween them and in positions to permit the free end of the arm 'n toabut against said shoulders one at a time. Inasmuch as the arm n isattached to the same shaft e to which the arms e and e are attached itis obvious that said arms move in unison, and all are governed by themovement of the rockshaft 71, and therefore the arms n and e may beformed in one piece, if desired, and likewise the two cams s and (1 Inorder to al low the arm 6 to release the lever 01, and thereby triptheimpression-cylinder without allowing the arm n to release the lever 70,and thus obviate stopping the motion of the press While theimpression-cylinder is retained in inoperative position, I attach to therockshaft it two or more fingers 0 0, which extend toward theimpression-cyliuder I or delivering end of the feedboard. The free endof each of these fingers has a lug 0 projecting from its side, and underthis lug is a feeler r, pivoted to an arm r, fastened to the rod j,hereinbefore described. 1 The lower end of said feeler is normally inthe path of the paper passing to the impression-cylinder, and the upperend of the feeler is formed with a downwardly-extending guard 1*, whichis inclined from the free end of the finger 0 to allow the latter todescend and to push by means of its lug 0 into further inclination thefeeler tilted by the passage of paper-to the feed-gages v of the press.The feeler 4'' has its upper end normally directly under the lug o ofthe finger 0 and is of a length to arrest the downward movement of thefinger 0 about midway its stroke by the lug 0 coming in contact with thetop of the feeler when the feeler is in its normal position, asrepresented in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The aforesaid arresting of thestroke of the finger 0 limits the movement of the rock-shaft hcorrespondingly, and thereby causes the restraining-arm n to be heldwith its free end in a position to pass through the space between thetwo shoulders n and n on the lever 70. ing by that time been turned fromthe lever allows said lever to be actuated by the springs m, whichcauses said lever to move the beltshifting lever Z and thereby throw thebelt onto the loose pulley, and thus stop the mo tion of theprintingpress. To effect this more positively, I attach a brake-shoe tto the free end of a lever 25, pivoted to a bracket fastened to thefloor, and connect said lever to the rod 76 by a chain or rod i so as toapply the said brake-shoe to the periphery of the fly-wheel it of theprinting-press simultaneously with the aforesaid shifting of thedriving-belt onto the loose pulley. It will be observed that thisstopping of the printingpress is effected whenever the paper fails topass to the gages v and to a position to allow the usual grippers of theimpression-cylinderI to seize the advance edge of the paper.Consequently said stopping of the press prevents the bare face of saidcylinder from being turned to a position to come in contact with theinked form in the press. This automatic stop mechanism may be appliedto.

drum-cylinder presses or any other cylinderpresses.

I prefer to employ at least two of the aforesaid feelers r, placed inposition to be actuated by the portions of the advance edge of the sheetnear the corners of said sheet. By this arrangement the press is causedto be stopped in case the paper-feedin g machine delivers a sheet havinga corner portion torn off or turned over, which sometimes occurs inhandling the paper in the operation of depositing it in thefeeding-machine. This stopping of the printing-press is due to the factthat the grippers of the press overlap the advance edge of the sheetonly about one-quarter of an inch, and it is therefore necessary thatboth ends of said advance edge are carried to the feedgages v of thepress. Consequently if a corner port-ion of the sheet is torn off orturned over, as before said, the feeler 1" at said mutilated ordisarranged portion of the sheet remains undisturbed from its normalposition during a sufficient period to cause the hereinbefore-describedautomatic beltshifting mechanism to stop the press. For this reason thetwo feelers r 0" must be placed in proximity to the line of thefeed-gages Q; '2), and in order to permit said feelers to be placed intheir proper positions they are sustained ad- The cam s havjustably inrelation to their distance from the impression cylinder or gages v o ofthe press. It is for this purpose that the rock-shaft h and feeler-supporting rodj are mounted on brackets attached to shoes 71 adjustablysecured to the plates 7L as horeinbefore described.

When my invention is applied to a tworevolution printing-press in themanner herein described, the impression cylinder is tripped withoutstopping the motion of the press, and thus accomplishes one of the mostdesired objects of my invention. This effect is produced in thefollowing manner: The printingpress having been set in motion causes theshaft f to receive rotary motion. The corresponding rotating cam f onsaid shaft rocks the arm (2 which imparts motion to the rock-shaft h,whose motion is freed from impediment by the paper passing under thefeeler i and abutting against the feelers r '1", and thereby tiltingsaid feelers to allow the fingers 2' and 0 on said shaft to freely rock,as represented in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The rotating of the shaft fcauses the cams d and s to push the tripping-levers d and back inopposition to their actuating-springs to maintain the printing-press inperfect operative condition. Said levers are retained in their saidposition by means of the arms a and n, which oscillate synchronouslywith the arm e and are carried at properly-timed intervals into positionto engage the shoulder d on the lever d and the shoulder n on the lever7r, said engagement taking elfectin time to prevent the lovers frombeing moved by their actuating-springs, while the cams d and s areturned from the levers.

In case the paper-feeding machine B fails to deliver a sheet at theproper time or misfed sheets are diverted from the path to the conveyersC by an automatic switch, as illustrated in my Letters PatentNo.625,094, dated May 16, 1899, the feeler 2" remains dormant in the pathof the paper. The descending finger 2' then strikes the inclined guard ion the upper end of the feeler '6 and tilts said feeler out of the wayof the farther descending finger. The feeler, immediately returning toits normal position, causes the shoulder thereof to engage the top ofthe finger and prevents the same from rising, as shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings. The resultant stopping of the rock-shaft h causes the arm e tobe retained in its raised position. The restraining-arms e and n, beingheld in corresponding position, prevents the arm 9 from engaging theshoulder d on the lever 11, and thus allows said lever to be actuated bythe spring (1 to trip the impression-cylinder and retain it in itselevated position. The other arm n is at the same time in position toengage the shoulder n on the lever is, and thus locks said lever, so asto prevent it from shifting the belt from the driving-pu1ley.Consequently the press is maintained in motion while theimpression-cylinder is tripped. In case the paper does pass under thefeeler 71,

but fails to push the feelers 1" out of their normal positions, the lugso of the descending fingers come in contact with the tops of the feelers'r r, as represented in Fig. of the drawings. This contact limits themovement of the rock-shaft h, soas to cause the arms 6 and n to be heldin position to prevent either of them from engaging the shoulders on thelevers d and k. The arm n, being in position to pass through the spacebetween the two shoulders at and n on the lever it, allows said lever tobe moved by the spring m, and thereby shift the belt onto the loosepulley, and thus stops the motion of the printing-press.

The herein-described automatic stop-motion is also applicable toprinting-presses which receive motion from an electric motor, asrepresented in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which M designates said motor,which may be of any suitable and well-known construction, not necessaryto be illustrated in the present case. By means of suitable gears, asindicated at l, 5, and 6, motion is transmitted from the motor to theusual gearwheel g on the press. 1 and 2 represent the two poles of aswitch placed inthe circuit which supplies the required electric currentto the motor. The pole 2 is represented in the form of a metalliccontact-piece attached to the upper end of a post 3, secured in the boxW, and the pole l is of the form of a spring-arm attached to theaforesaid box and insulated therefrom, as shown at 7, and carrying onits free end the contact piece facing the pole 2 and forced from thesame by the action of the spring-arm. This switch is placed in such aposition in relation to the lever is that said switch is caused to beclosed by said lever pushing the pole 1 into contact with the pole 2,when the lever is forced in opposition to its actuating-spring m and toa position to allow the restraining-arm n to engage and lock said lever,and thereby maintain the aforesaid switch closed and the motor M inoperation.

In case the feelers r are left in their normal position by failure inthe delivery of the paper to the press in the manner hereinbeforedescribed the restraining-arm n is caused to release the lever is, whichis then actuated by the spring in and thrown into a position whichrelieves the pole 1 from the pressure of the lever, and thus breaks thecircuit to which the motor M is connected. Consequently the press isstopped under such circumstances.

I do not limit myself to the form of the electric switch shown in theannexed drawings, inasmuch as it is susceptible of many modifications.

In the operation of printing-presses it has been found essential toprovide means for stopping the press by the man in charge while standingeither at the feeding-machine for observing the operation or foradjusting it or at the delivery end of the press to detect anyaccidental defect in the prints. To

afiord such control of the press at either end as a prop 8, pivoted atits footto a firm foundation and having its free end adapted to engageand release the under side of a shoulder 9,'projecting from the side ofthe rockarm 6 as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. A rod 10 is attachedto the detent 8 and extended to the feeding-machine B, where it isarranged convenient of access for manipulation. Another rod 11 isextended from the detent' 8 toward the delivery end of the press, whereit is connected to one of the arms of a bell-crank 12, which is pivotedto the press-frame and has its other arm connected by anupwardly-extending rod 13 to one of the arms of a bell-crank 14, whichis also pivoted to the press-frame and has atper end of said detentduring the descent of 1 said rock-arm, which is thereby arrested in aposition which causes the restraining-arm n to release the lever k andallow the same to be actuated by the spring m, which movement of thelever stops the motion of the press, as hereinbefore explained. Inasmuchas the feeding-machine derives its motion from the same mechanism whichactuates the press it is obvious that said feeding-machine is stoppedsimultaneously with the stopping of the press.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with a printing-press, itsactuating mechanism and means for automatically feeding the paper tosaid press, of a lever for starting and stopping said mechanism,mechanism moving said lever to its starting position, means forautomatically throwing said lever to its stopping position, an armmovable to and from a position to retain the lever in its startingposition, a feeler disposed to be actuated by the paper in transit tothe press, and mechanism controlled by said feeler in its dormantposition to release the lever from the retaining-arm.

2. The combination, with a printing-press, its driving-pulley and belt,a belt-shifting lever,"and means for automatically feeding the paper tosaid press, of mechanism actuating said lever to carry the belt on thedrivingpulley, means for automatically actuating the IIO lever to shiftthe belt onto the loose pulley, a brake actuated by said lever to checkthe momentum of the press simultaneously with the shifting of the beltonto the loose pulley, an arm adapted to lock the lever to maintain thebelt on the driving-pulley, a feeler disposed to be actuated by thepaper in transit to the press, and mechanism controlled by said feelerin its dormant position to release the lever from the loehing-arm.

3. The combination, with a printingpress and automatic feeder, of alever controlling the action of said press, a spring forcing said leverin one direction, mechanism forcing the lever intermittently in theopposite direction, means operating alternately with said meelr anism torestrain the action of the lever under the in tlnence of the spring, andfeelers ac tuated by the paper in transit to the press and controllingthe aforesaid restraining means.

l. The combination with a printing-press and automatic paper-fecder, ofa lever controlling the action of said press, a spring forcing saidlever in one direction, a cam pushing the lever in the oppositedirection, a rockarm timed in its movement to operate on the leveralternately with the cam and restrain the movement of the lever underthe influence of the spring, and feelers actuated by the paper intransit to the press and controlling the action of the rock-arm.

5. The combination with a printing-these having a verticallymovableimpression-cylinder, means for transmitting motion to said press, meansfor intermittently depressing the im pressiotrcylinder, and means forfeeding the paper to the press, of a rook-shaft disposed transverselyover the feeding-path of the paper, fingers extending laterally fromsaid shaft, feelers under the free ends of said fingers and opposedyieldingly to the passage of the paper to the press and limiting themovement of said rock-shaft to di'lferent degrees, mechanism controllingthe vertical movement of the impression-cylinder and actuated by one ofsaid degrees of movement, and mechanism controlling the motion of thepress and actuated by the other of said degrees of movement as setforth.

6. The combination with a prii'iting-press having a vertically-movableimpression-cylinder, means for transmitting motion to the press, meansfor intermittently depressing the impression-cylinder, and means forfeeding the paper to the press, of a rock-shaft disposed transverselyover the feeding-path of the paper, feelers disposed in proximity to thefeed-gages of the press and to be actuated by the paper in transit tosaid gages, a similarly-actuated feeler in the path of the paper remotefrom the impression-cylinder, fingers extending from the aforesaidlOGleI- shaft to the aforesaid feelers and limiting the movement of therock-shaft to different degrees by the action of the different feelers,mechanism controlling the vertical movement of the impression-cylinderand aetuated by the degrees of movement controlled by theremotely-disposed feeler, and mechanism controlling tne motion of thepress and ac tnated by the degrees of movement controlled by the feelerssituated in proximity to the press-gages as set forth.

' 7. The combination with a printing-press having a vertieally-movableimpression-cyh inder, means for transmitting motion to the press, meansfor intermittently depressing the impressiotrcylinder, and means forfeed ing the paper to the press, of a rock-shaft disposed transverselyover the feeding-path of the paper, separate lingers extendingrespectivoly forward and rearward from said shaft, a feeler disposedunder the free end of the IQttl'Wztl'tlly-(IXliHll(lint}; finger to beactuated by the paper in transit and normally retaining the finger inits extreme depressed position, similarly-actuated feelers under thefree ends of the fan-wardly-extending lingers and normally arrestingsaid lingers in partly-depressed position and actuated by the paper intransit to release said fingers for further depression thereof, a rotarycam, a rock-arm transmitting motion from said cam to the aforesaidrock-shaft and governed by the aforesaid limitations of the movements ofsaid shaft, a lever movable to a position to lock theimpression-cylinder in its elevated position, a lever movable to stopthe press and restraining-arms actuated by the aforesaid rock-arm tocontrol the positions of said lovers.

8. The combination With a priiiting-press having a vertically-movableimpression-cylinder, means for transmitting motion to said press,mechanism intermittently depressing the impression-cylinder, and meansfor feeding the paper to the press, of a lever movable to a position tolock the impression-cylinder in its elevated position and provided witha loehingshoulder, a lever movable to stop the motion of the press andprovided with two locking-shoulders and with a passage between saidshoulders, two restrainingarms actuated in unison and to positions toeither engage simultaneously the shoulder of one of the locking-leversand one of the shoulders of the other of said levers, or rele saidshoulders, or engage solely the other shoulder of thestopmtotion-locking lever, mechanism actuating said restrainingarms, andfeelers disposed to be actuated by the paper in transit at differentdistances from the press and controlling the actuating mechanism of saidrestraining-arms to trip the impression-cylinder by the feeler disposedremote from the press and simultaneously maintain the press in motion bythe feeler nearest the press.

9. In combination with the paper-con veyers and a roclcshaft extendingtransversely over said conveyors, a finger extending from saidrock-shaft toward the receiving end of the conveyors, and a feelerconsisting of a vertically-elongated plate pivoted intermediate its endson an, axis parallel with the rock-shaft,

said plate having its lower end normally in the plane of the conveyersand its upper end formed with a shoulder presented toward the free endof the aforesaid finger and terminated with an upwardly-extending guardinclined from the finger to allow the latter to descend and push thefeeler into position for engaging by its shoulder the top of the fingeras set forth and shown.

10. In combination with the paper-conveyers and a rock-shaft extendingtransversely over said conveyors, a finger extending from saidrock-shaft toward the delivery end of the conveyers and formed With alaterally-projecting lug on its free end, and a feeler consisting of avertically-elongated plate pivoted intermediate its ends on an aXisparallel with the rock-shaft and having its lowervend normally in theplane of the paper-conveyers, and its upper end formed with adownwardlyextending guard inclined from the free end of the aforesaidfinger to allow the latter to descend and to push by means of its luginto further inclination the feeler tilted by the passage of paperunderneath it as set forth.

11. The combination with a printing-press having a vertically-movableimpression-cylinder, the driving-belt, and conveyers delivering thepaper to said press, of mechanisms for tripping the impression-cylinder,a lever actuating said tripping mechanism, a lever provided with meansfor shifting the belt onto the loose pulley, springs forcing said leversinto action, cams forcing the levers in opposition to the springs, armsrestraining the actions of the levers while released from the cams andmovable to three different positions, one of said positions engagingboth levers simultaneously, the second position releasing said leversand the third position engaging the belt-shifting lever alone, feelersactuated by the paper in transit to the press, a rockshaft disposed overthe conveyors, fingers attached to said shaft and controlled in theiraction by said feelers, and means for transmitting motion from therock-shaft to the aforesaid restraining-arms as set forth.

12. The combination with a printing-press, and mechanisms controllingthe action of said press, of a manually-operated detent engaging saidmechanism and arresting the action of the press.

13. The combination with a printing-press, of a lever for starting andstopping said press, means actuating said lever to stop the press,mechanisms forcing said lever to a positionto start the press, arestraining-arm locking said lever in said position, a rock-arm con"trolling said restraining-arm, a detent movable to a position to checkthe motion of said rock-arm, and manually-operated means extending fromsaid detent to afford control of the action of the press as set forth.

TALBOT O. DEXTER. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

G. V. B. LEITOH, M. E. MORRISON.

